Federal prosecutors opened their case against 38-year old Kaboni Savage back in February, letting jurors know from the start that they were seeking the death penalty. They claim Savage was ‘ruthless’ in punishing rivals – all told he’s linked to 12-killings – five of them drug dealers – but they also contend he targeted innocent family and friends of a witness.

In one alleged act of witness intimidation, when he heard word while locked up that a former associate was going to testify against him at a drug trial, authorities say Savage ordered a 2004 firebombing attack on a Eugene Coleman’s family home in North Philadelphia. Coleman’s mother, infant son, three other relatives and a friend…